SHS Music
Band Program
Marching Band
During the Fall, all band members and color guard combine together to form our impressive Marching Band & Color Guard! This exciting ensemble performs at all home football games, and performs competitively throughout the state. Each year presents a new theme to combine music, movement, dance, and choreography into a stunning auditory and visually stimulating show!
Freshman Band & Symphonic Band
Prerequisite: Ability to play a musical instrument. No classroom experience needed. This course is open to students who have the ability to play a wind or percussion instrument, but students without experience participating in a concert band are also welcome. This is a year-long course in which students must be enrolled for both semesters. The class consists of two parts: Marching Band during the fall season and Symphonic Band for the remainder of the year. Students should plan on performance and competition time outside of class, as well as an on-campus camp the two weeks before the first official week of school. Performances are given annually before thousands of spectators at band festivals, competitions, and concerts.
Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE)
Prerequisite: Ability to play an instrument with previous experience in a classroom instrumental music program. Membership in this class is by audition only, and is open to 10-12th grade students, unless an instrumentation need exists in the class. The course is designed to meet the academic study of the most advanced band students. Students must be enrolled for both semesters. The class consists of two parts: Marching Band during the first quarter, then Concert Band during the rest of the school year. Students in Marching Band should plan on rehearsal, performance, and competition time outside of class, as well as an on-campus Band Camp two weeks prior to the first official week of school.
Jazz Bands
Saratoga High offers two Jazz Bands for students. Jazz Band I starts in the winter (after marching band season), and meets after school and during tutorial. In order to participate in Jazz Band I, you must be enrolled in a curricular music class during the day (i.e. Symphonic Band, String Orchestra, Concert Choir, etc.). No previous jazz playing experience is necessary, however, you must be able to play and read music on a jazz instrument.
Jazz Band II is an auditioned group meeting three times a week during the seventh period of the school day. Instrumentation is that of a standard jazz ensemble (typically one on a part), and auditions take place in the spring of the previous year.